I hate riding in the cold! Long transports down roads at 8am are evil. Standing in the rain waiting for a lost rider or a flat tyre sux too!

But I was lucky enough to try an Avade heated riding top on a 3 day ride in Tassie recently.

It is the brainchild of Steve, one of the team at Otway Tours. He is a skinny man that has to do a lot of klms in cold weather. And after several years of development he has beaten the winter chill with this top.

It is a skins-like lycra long sleeved top with three carbon fibre heater elements in it - two on the chest, one on the back. It has a small battery that lasts several hours and a three stage switch with colored led lights for each setting - and it warms up in about 5 seconds!

He explained to me that it was made of the thinnest material possible so once the day warms up, you just hold down the button sewn into your wrist for 5 seconds and it is off for the day. The top just feels like a skins top after that. I couldn't really feel the heater pads or slimline battery under my body armour either, it is all neatly positioned and comfortable.

They can handle plenty of water too - I tested it in a boghole when I drowned myself and my bike. It has to be the smartest product I have come across for winter! IT IS HEATED GRIPS FOR YOUR WHOLE BODY!!

His website will be up and running soon in time for winter. If not I might put them up on www.mainjet.com.au for him. They come in S,M & L at the moment. I could wear a bigger size but L did fit me. I also plan to wear it at the MCG watching footy and would be a lifesaver fishing or sitting on a chair lift on any ski slope.

Now that I'm officially old and soft (turned 40 last week) my love of heated grips and woollen socks is growing exponentially. I like the look of this, beats the crap out of wearing a big bulky jacket. It could be used like heated grips, turn it off when your working hard in the st then on for the faster stuff. Would be good if it could be charged from the bike...

Keg and I where fortunate to be apart of that ride in Tassie, the whole experience was amazing inc several fast flat fixes by the great Keg himself. I'll post some pics and release some cam footage on another thread soon.

But I thought I'd just put myself in this thread so you can put a name/face to the guy behind the Avade product.

PM me if there are any questions or other stuff regarding the garment. Or I can answer them publicly If you wish?

I'm 6ft 2 (188cm) & 87kg and I wear a size medium, but I like a tight fit.